Compare towns
Hancock vs Springfield vs Franconia vs Harrisville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Harrisville has the most kids (16.4% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hancock | Springfield | Franconia | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,791Highest |
1,122 |
1,060 |
885Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
51.4±8.8Lowest 19% above NH |
55.6±7 28% above NH |
58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
| Harrisville and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
16.4%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Harrisville and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
35.8%±10.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$103,036±$13kHighest 4% above NH |
| Harrisville and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
$430,500±$48k 7% above NH |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,611±$367Highest 8% above NH |
| Harrisville and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$7,451Highest 12% above NH |
$5,329Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
35%±90.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Lafayette Regional School District | Harrisville School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.